As breast Cancer Awareness
Month begins to wind down,
we are continuing our coverage with
a two time breast cancer survivor
who was also misdiagnosed four times.
She eventually started
an organization called.
It's in the genes in order to help
minority women get information on
screenings and support for those
who are fighting the disease.
Vicki, I am so happy to meet you and
have you here on great day Washington.
How are you?
I am great and thank you for
this awesome opportunity.
Absolutely you know you and I have gone
through something very similar that a lot
of women in the world have gone through.
You are a two time cancer survivor, correct?
Yes, I am and misdiagnosed four
times right so I feel you on that.
I was misdiagnosed twice and we
hear more and more of these stories.
So you've taken this battle that you
have been fighting and going through and
are giving back and started a nonprofit.
What kind of led to all of this? Well,
I when I went through my first
treatment when I was diagnosed,
there was no organizations that I
could find to assist me with anything.
They all wanted to give me T shirts
or make a donation and I needed help.
So I started writing down all the
organizations that could help me
so that when I went to my chemo
treatment I could share it with the
other ladies because I figured if I
didn't know they didn't know, right?
So it's called in your gerrits It's in
the jeans. I want to get that right.
It means yes, because think about it,
all chronic diseases and health
disparities. They're in your jeans,
you wear them every day.
Vicki, you are helping so
many people going through
this fight just like you did.
But how his starting?
It's in your genes and
helping others helped you.
Well, it's ignited a fight in me that I I
I just want to help women in my community.
My mother told me that when
you take the stress off of you
and you helped someone else,
you know that's what we're supposed
to do in the community.
So God really gave me.
It's in the genes to help others in
the community and I enjoy working with
women and making sure that they know
the resources that's available to them.
And we work with just not the DMV,
but all over the world.
And you do a lot of advocacy for like
the black and minority communities too,
right? Why was that such a focus?
And why is there a disparity there?
Because the numbers for African
American women, from my understanding,
have tripled when it comes to
us dying of breast cancer.
And there's a lot of reasons,
and we can total those reasons together.
But the bottom line is we're still dying,
so there's still a lot of work to be done,
and that's why I started the pinky party.
And that's why I make sure wherever I go,
I tell my husband,
I'm sorry I've got to tell my business
because when we share breast cancer,
we never shared the good
side of breast cancer.
There is a good side of breast
cancer and that is we're surviving.
We just have to get that message out there
and real quick before I let you go.
Your breast cancer surgery
toolkit was something that you
were able to participate in.
What is that and how is it helping people?
That is an awesome tool kit that the American
College of Surgeons have put together.
You can go on their website and that
just walked you through the steps.
And I'm a part of that.
I'm featured in that on breast cancer.
Your journey at how it's done when
it's done and there's a lot of great
information on there that will explain
and answer a lot of your question.
Vicki, you are a fighter and a queen,
just like that crown sitting on your
head and you much deserved that.
Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Thank you and thank you for allowing
me to share my story and many
blessings with you as well. Thank you.
She is amazing.
Thank you Vicki, and in honor of
breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Our team here at W USA 9 is working
with the Three B's Foundation to
collect money to make bosom buddy baskets.
They are filled with comfort items for
local patients who must go through a
mastectomy and for every $150 raised a
basket will be sent to a local patient.
So to donate now and show your support
just point your phone camera at this QR
code and then click the link that pops up.
You can also go to our website. WSA 9.
Comma and we would also love for you
to join us virtually this Friday,
October 29th for are still standing event.
It starts at 8:00 AM and to register
you just text the word awareness to
8339872929.